2. The rocks crumble'; the trees fall; the leaves fade', and the grass withers. 3. The tears of the sufferers are already dried', their rage is hushed', their complaints are silenced', and they no longer claim our pity. 9. The language of command, rebuke, contempt, exclamation, and terror, usually requires the falling inflection. EXAMPLES. 1. Go to the ant', thou sluggard, consider her ways, and be wise'. 2. Awake! ye sons of Spain. Awake`! Advance` ! 3. If ye are men, follow me! Strike down yon guard`,—gain the mountain passes',—and then do bloody work'. 4. Thou slave', thou wretch', thou coward! Away` from my sight'! 5. Mercy on me! breathe it not aloud', the wild winds must not hear it,—'tis a foul murder`. 6. What a piece of work is man'! what a subject of contra diction'! how noble'! how mean'! the glory and the scandal of the universe'. 10. The last member of a commencing series, and the last but one of a concluding series, usually require the rising inflection; and all others the falling. EXAMPLES. 1. In eloquence, we see sublimity', beauty', genius', and power', in their noblest exercise'. 2. It is this depth, this weight', this elevation of principle', this purity of motive', which makes them the admiration of the world'. 3. But the fruit of the Spirit is love', joy, peace', long-suffering', gentleness', goodness', faith', meekness', temperance'. 4. In most armies, the ranks are filled with the depraved`, desperate the cruel', the bloody', and the rapacious'. the 5. The youth longs to be at age', then to be a man of business', then to make up an estate', then to arrive at honors', and then to retire 11. Emphatic repetition, and the pointed enumeration of particulars, require the falling inflection. The stress of voice should be gradually increased on each repetition, or succession of particulars. The preceding rule with regard to a commencing and a concluding series, should be duly observed. EXAMPLES. 1. If I were an American, while a foreign troop was landed in my country, I never would lay down my arms-never`! NEVER! NEVER! 2. His first cry was, God and liberty'. His second cry was, GOD AND LIBERTY'. His third cry was, GOD AND LIBERTY`. 3. He aspired to be the highest'; above the people', above the laws', above his country', above surrounding nations'. 4. They, through faith, subdued kingdoms', wrought righteousness', obtained promises', stopped the mouth of lions', quenched the violence of fire', escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong', waxed valiant in fight', turned to flight the armies of the aliens'. 12. THE CIRCUMFLEX is used in language of irony, sarcasm, derision, condition, and contrast. EXAMPLES. 1. He is a râre pattern of humanity. 2. One may be wise, though he be poôr. 3. No doubt yě are the pêople, and wisdom shall die with yoû. 4. They follow an adventurer whom they fear; wê serve a monarch whom we love. 5. ""Tis green, 'tis green, sir, I assure ye!" "Green!” cries the other, in a fury; "Why, sir, d'ye think I've lost my eyes?" SECTION VI.-MODULATION. MODULATION is the act of varying the voice in reading and speaking. Among its more important divisions are PITCH, FORCE, QUALITY, and RATE. PITCH. 1. PITCH refers to the key-note of the voice-its general degree of elevation or depression, in reading and speaking. We mark three general distinctions of Pitch: HIGH, MODERATE, and Low. 2. THE HIGH PITCH is that which is heard in calling to a person at a distance. It is used in expressing elevated and joyous feelings; as, Go ring the bells, and fire the guns, And fling the starry banners out; Give back their cradle shout. 3. THE MODERATE PITCH is that which is heard in common conversation. It is used in expressing ordinary thought and moderate emotion; as, The morning itself, few people, inhabitants of cities, know any thing about. Among all our good people, not one in a thousand sees the sun rise once in a year. They know nothing of the morning. Their idea of it is, that it is that part of the day that comes along after a cup of coffee and a beef-steak, or a piece of toast. 4. THE LOW PITCH is that which is heard when the voice falls below the common speaking key. It is used in expressing emotions of reverence, awe, and sublimity; as, 'Tis midnight's holy hour, and silence now Is brooding, like a gentle spirit, o'er The still and pulseless world. Hark! on the winds EXERCISE ON PITCH. Select a sentence, and deliver it on as low a key as possible; then repeat it, gradually elevating the pitch, until the top of the voice shall have been reached; when the exercise may be reversed. So valuable is this exercise, that it should be repeated as often as possible. FORCE. 1. FORCE is the volume or loudness of voice, used on the same key or pitch, when reading or speaking. Though the degrees of force are numerous, varying from a soft whisper to a shout, yet they may be considered as three: LOUD, MODERATE, and GENTLE. 2. LOUD FORCE is used in strong but suppressed passions, and vehement emotions; as, How like a fawning publican he looks! I hate him, for that he is a Christian. I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him. 3. MODERATE FORCE, or a medium degree of loudness, is used in ordinary assertion, narration, and description; as, A man should never be ashamed to own he has been in the wrong; which is but saying, in other words, that he is wiser to-day than he was yesterday. 4. GENTLE FORCE, or a slight degree of loudness, is used to express caution, fear, secrecy, and tender emotions; as, Heard ye the whisper of the breeze, As softly it murmured by, Amid the shadowy forest trees? It tells, with meaning sigh, Of the bowers of bliss on that viewless shore, EXERCISE ON FORCE, Select a sentence, and deliver it on a given key, with voice just sufficient to be heard: then gradually increase the quantity, until the whole power of the voice is brought into play. Reverse the process, without change of key, ending with a whisper. This exercise is so valuable that it can not be too frequently repeated. QUALITY. 1. QUALITY has reference to the kind of tone used in reading and speaking. They are the PURE TONE, the OROTUND, the ASPIRATED, and the GUTTURAL. 2. THE PURE TONE is a clear, smooth, round, flowing sound, accompanied with moderate pitch; and is used to express peace, cheerfulness, joy, and love; as, Methinks I love all common things; The common air, the common flower; No other wealth, no other power, 3. THE OROTUND is the pure tone deepened, enlarged, and intensified. It is used in all energetic and vehement forins of expression, and in giving utterance to grand and sublime emotions; as, Strike, till the last armed foe expires; 4. THE ASPIRATED is an expulsion of the breath more or less strong, the words being spoken in a whisper. It is used to express amazement, fear terror, horror, revenge, and remorse; as, |